Earlier today, reports came out that football players at Northwestern were moving forward with a plan to create a union for college athletes. The NCAA has wasted no time in putting together a response, and quickly dismissed the idea via Twitter:

This union-backed attempt to turn student-athletes into employees undermines the purpose of college: an education.

Many student athletes are provided scholarships and many other benefits for their participation. There is no employment relationship between the NCAA, its affiliated institutions or student-athletes. Student-athletes are not employees within any definition of the National Labor Relations Act or the Fair Labor Standards Act. We are confident the National Labor Relations Board will find in our favor, as there is no right to organize student-athletes.

This response is no surprise, as the NCAA has been heavily resistant to change, especially when it comes to the notion of paying players. While the Northwestern players seem to be looking more for health care and scholarship protection. Between this effort, and the possibility of the major conference schools moving further away from the NCAA as we know it, massive change looks inevitable for college sports.